Dave Anderson, head coach of Holmwood Technical High School, says his girls’ 4x400m relay team has a strong chance of upsetting the favourites to win the Championships America’s title at this year’s Penn Relays in Philadelphia.
The prestigious meet, which will run from April 23–25 at Franklin Field, will see several of Jamaica’s top high school teams competing against elite American opposition.
Holmwood entered the championships on the back of a third-place finish at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs), where they clocked 3:39.61 behind winners Hydel, 3:33.72, and Edwin Allen High School, 3:35.30.
Hydel are four-time defending champions in the event at the Penn Relays.
Holmwood, once a powerhouse in the event at the Penn Relays, last captured the 4x400m title in 2019, and Anderson said this year’s team is well equipped to challenge again.
“This is one of the years that we are going to the Penn Relays looking all rounded in terms of our best team, but we would have made some adjustments and just try to focus on the 4x400m,” Anderson said.
“The 4x400m relay is our best chance, but it is going to be difficult. But I think this is our best chance of winning a title out of the three relays that we will be entering,” he said.
“The team is well prepared and confident that they will do well, because all season we have not run to our thue potential; and I think that we are going to put on a good showing at the Penn Relays.”
‘Our chances are as good’
Despite the stiff competition expected, Anderson noted that he is backing his athletes to deliver when it matters most.
“The race is not won on paper, and so it is what you go out there and do on the day, and so I believe that our chances are as good as other teams in the competition,” he said.
Holmwood will be boosted by the return of key athlete Annastacia Hall, who missed Champs but is now back in contention.
“We finished third at Champs last month, and so we definitely intend to put on a better show because one of our key members, Annastacia Hall, who was unable to run at Champs, is up and running now. So she will be running and will be adding something special to the team,” Anderson said.
“I think that with her inclusion, we will be able to do much and we will be running a much faster time and, hopefully, that can give us a chance to win the championships.”
Hall is expected to line up alongside teammates Abrena Wright, Maddison Campbell, Tracey Evans and Christine Hubert as Holmwood looks to reclaim its place among the elites.
